Immigration and Criminal Charges — any encounter you have with police may have immigration consequences whether you are here with no status or if you have a green card. Even minor traffic infractions such as driving without a license or a summons for drinking in public may have grave immigration consequences.
Failure to disclose something as minor as a summons, ticket for driving without a license, or even a case that was dismissed may result in your immigration benefits being denied. Even worse failure to disclose this information may lead to a finding of fraud, which will hurt your eligibility for immigration benefits in the future.
It’s also very important to consult with a qualified immigration attorney before you enter any sort of plea deal in a criminal matter. Anyone who is not a citizen, including green card holders, runs the risk of being put into removal proceedings or becoming ineligible for immigration benefits whenever they enter into a criminal plea.
So it’s important for you to speak with a qualified immigration attorney if you have a even a relatively minor criminal charge in order to avoid far more serious repercussions.